ISTANBUL LALE FESTIVALI, TURKEY

Not everyone knows that the tulip is one of the Turkish traditional symbols. Every spring the annual Istanbul Tulip Festival takes place. The festival is held in April, millions of fragrant flowers are planted everywhere in squares and city avenues forming spectacular landscape compositions. In April lush flower beds in Istanbul are seen literally everywhere you look. They bloom for several weeks and may delight the eye for a month.

Although the festival is held for just a few years, its history dates back to the reign of the Ottoman Empire. In ancient times tulips were considered the flowers of sultans, they were presented in reverence and respect for the nobles and rich people. Luxurious clothes and dishes have been decorated with floral print and paintings with the images of tulips have adorned the walls of mosques.The tulip is one of Istanbul’s traditional symbols. Brought to the city from Iran centuries ago, it was favored and cultivated here until tulip love became a mania. In the so-called Tulip Period of Ottoman history, a rare tulip variety could be sold for a breathtaking sum.

Every April sınce 2005 , the city government in Istanbul has planted millions of tulips in Istanbul’s parks, avenues, traffic roundabouts and…really anywhere there is open ground.
Emirgan Park appears the centre of events many years already. tulip festival in Istanbul is visited not only by curious tourists, but also by professional florists.

Come to Istanbul in April and enjoy the Tulip Festival – İstanbul Emirgan LALE şenliği